Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)

It is almost impossible to live in Spain without learning the language, as it is the only language spoken at the offices, banks, university, TV, shops, restaurants, traveling agencies etc.. I attended to a language cource at "escuela official de idiomas", which was quite efficient, but because of the 'high school style' teaching methods I lost all the interest to study. It was quite difficult to get to know the local students, but fortunately all the exchange students speak spanish to each other.

There was a definate improvement in my Spanish language and communication skills during my semester abroad. I feel as though I peaked and reached a point where I thought, counted, and dreamed in Spanish. Because my native language is English it is easy to get by without challenging oneself to become immersed in the language. I would encourage anyone wishing to learn Spanish to fully immerse him or herself. I found the best way to be socializing with the Spanish students of the university.

When I came here I could communicate pretty well but sometimes had difficulties to understand the local speakers when the spoke fast. It was even more complicated when it came to the professors during classes, because I couldn't ask them to repeat or speak slower. It wasn't a private class after all. That has gotten so much better though and now I can understand almost the entire class. My communicating skills have improved as well.

I really did my best to integrate myself in as many situations as possible in which I was required to improve and develop my Spanish language skills, ie. in academic, social and cultural situations. The result was an incredibly improved vocabulary and dominance of the language in conversational, professional and social contexts.

My Spanish has improved considerably and now I have no more problems to communicate in this language. In the university I did not have misunderstandings, everything worked out well. To learn speaking well it is very important to establish friendships with natives and to travel a lot because there is a great dialectal variation.

I did a precious Intensive Spanish Course in October for Foreign Students at the University of Salamanca where I got the best grade at the highest level. It was really important in terms of grammar, but all the specific business vocabulary I learned from studying and from listening to the teachers.